Is honey a superfood? Here are 10 reasons we think so

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Whether you love to stir a teaspoon of sweet honey into your favourite natural tea to enjoy a light-weight, soothing deal before bedtime, otherwise you like a touch of this natural sweet nectar in your oatmeal, honey is a delicious pure sweetener with many applications. Moreover, while excessive sugar consumption is associated with weight achievement, obesity, inflammatory diseases, sort 2 diabetes, and even pimples and different skin conditions, there are potential health advantages to consuming raw honey in moderation. In fact, raw honey has been used in traditional medicine for years for quite a lot of health and medical purposes.

Unlike most of the honey found on grocery store shelves, which is pasteurized by treating it with heat, raw honey is unpasteurized and retains potent natural compounds that present health benefits. As with any high-sugar food, consuming an excessive amount of honey can result in weight gain, however, incorporating a serving or two of uncooked honey into your daily weight loss plan can present health benefits whereas satisfying your sweet tooth. Keep reading for a list of the benefits of honey.

Health benefits of honey
Raw honey is straight from the hive. It is unprocessed, unpasteurized, and retains all its antioxidants. Unlike pasteurized honey, which is obvious, silky, and preserved to final on the shelf, raw honey is cloudy and must be refrigerated. Note that honey shouldn’t be given to any youngster under the age of 1 yr previous, because of the risk of botulism.


1. Raw honey is packed with antioxidants
Just like lots of the most nutritious vegetables and fruit, uncooked honey is a wealthy supply of antioxidants referred to as polyphenols. Antioxidants struggle with free radicals within the body—corresponding to these created from publicity to harmful UV rays—and reduce oxidative injury. Antioxidants can thus defend in opposition to mobile growing older and premature cell death, inflammation, and DNA damage. Research has demonstrated the flexibility of antioxidants to cut back the chance of sure cancers, coronary heart illness, and other lifestyle diseases.

2. Raw honey can fight with infection
Raw honey has been a staple medical therapy for wounds and infections for hundreds of years. This is a result of it incorporating hydrogen peroxide, an antiseptic that may kill dangerous bacteria and fungi. Using raw honey as a salve on open wounds could scale back the chance of an infection and expedite therapeutic because it has also been found to increase tissue regeneration with cuts, wounds, and burns.


3. Raw honey can boost the immune system
The phytonutrients in raw honey have been proven to help the immune system and assist in struggling with sicknesses. Perhaps that sizzling mug of herbal tea with melted uncooked honey when you feel a sore throat coming on doesn’t simply really feel soothing but truly helps struggle with the impending chilly or virus.

4. Raw honey can aid digestion
Raw honey contains prebiotics, which are indigestible fibres that feed the useful micro organism residing in your intestine. These microorganisms play key roles in digesting and absorbing vitamins, producing vitamins, heading off pathogens, and promoting bowel regularity, so fueling them with prebiotics retains them strong. Raw honey has additionally been found to enhance diarrhoea and indigestion in some analysis research.

5. Raw honey can reduce blood pressure
Several research has found that raw honey can decrease blood pressure. Because hypertension is related to coronary heart disease and stroke, getting your blood strain under control can scale back disease threats and help heart health.

6. Raw honey can soothe sore throats and coughs
When your throat is sore, a gentle coating of uncooked honey in tea can soothe infected tissues and ease the pain. Moreover, uncooked honey can suppress coughing, which makes it a good option before bed when you’re battling a foul cold or respiratory infection.

7. Raw honey may reduce allergies
There is little proof pointing to the efficacy of raw honey to cut back the signs and severity of seasonal allergies. The pollen and bee propolis could present some degree of immunotherapy, particularly when you ingest local uncooked honey out of your specific area.

8. Raw honey contains some nutrients
In addition to antioxidants, raw honey contains zinc, iron, and potassium, which are minerals important for quite a lot of regular physiological features corresponding to supporting the immune system, transporting oxygen, conducting nerve impulses, and conducting electrical indicators within the heart.

9. Raw honey can provide fast energy
As raw honey is a form of easy sugar, it may well present a fast enhancement of energy. Instead of consuming processed, sticky, chemical-laden vitality gels, for instance, marathon runners and different athletes could discover utilizing raw honey is a more healthy approach to prime off glycogen shops during an athletic endeavour.

10. Raw honey is easy to eat and absolutely delicious
While some healthy meals are troublesome to prepare, hard to work into meals or let’s be honest — don’t style all that nice, honey doesn’t fall into any of these classes. You can work honey into absolutely anything you’re consuming. Substitute honey for sugar in your coffee, in your cereal, or in your yoghurt. Drizzle some bread and fruit for a delicious sweet snack. This sticky sweet treat is delicious by any means you need it.